by Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports

by Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports

For the first time in five years, there seems to be a winter thaw happening in Green Bay. The February temperatures remain frigid, but the climate between current Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his predecessor Brett Favre appears to be warming following their joint appearance at Saturday's NFL Honors event.

The scripted moment, which onstage seemed to still show traces of the awkwardness that remained following Favre's contentious departure from the Packers in 2008, wasn't so bad, according to Rodgers. On his weekly radio show, the 2011 NFL MVP said it's time for the Packers to once again embrace Favre's role in the team's history.

"As the face of the franchise now, (it's) a role that I take very seriously. I have the responsibility and enjoy having the opportunity to represent my team," Rodgers said. "I think it's important to realize that it is time to probably time to move forward."

The pair's relationship took a hit after Favre's "unretirement" in 2008, where the Packers eventually ended up trading him to the New York Jets. They hadn't really talked for several years prior to the lead-up to Saturday's ceremony, but had phone conversations last week.

"They pitched to me this idea of presenting with Brett, just to see how I would feel about it. And I thought about it for a little bit, but I really felt strongly that it was going to be a good thing for both of us and for Packer Nation," Rodgers said on the show.

"Brett is two years removed from the game, and he's going to be obviously going to be in the Packers Hall of Fame, he'll get his number retired and will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the next few years. It's important, I think, to make sure that he's recognized for all the accomplishments he's achieved in our organization especially, he's very dear to many of our fans still and the things he's done on the field for the Packers, you can never take that away. As the face of the franchise, I felt like it was important that I take a leadership role in that â?? not that one was needed now, but I thought it was good timing to just let the fans know, let Brett know, let's move forward. Let's heal things up and let's move forward.

As the Pittsburgh Steelers know, it's never good for the team when their current star signal-caller and former legend at the position are publicly feuding. Rodgers and Favre don't have to go hunting in Mississippi, but as memories of Favre's late-career missteps become more cloudy when considering his overall legacy, it would only benefit both men and more importantly, the Packers to have them all on friendly terms.